Amusement and skill game



Oct. 8, 1935. s, E. WHITE 2,016,661

AMUSEMENT AND SKILL GAMfi Filed Dec. 27, 1954 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT AND SKILL GAME Sanford E. White, Santa Monica, Calif.

,Application December 27, 1934, Serial No. 759,366

6 Claims. 7 (Cl. 273-105) V My invention relates to games involving skill and furnishing amusement to the players thereof, the successful players being rewarded for their skill with prizes.

Among the salient objects of the invention are: to provide in a game of the character referred to a series of pockets or openings into one of which the player casts a ball, marble or other similar article, it being required that the ball or marble be cast into a predetermined pocket or opening in order to cause the mechanism to function and indicate a prize; to provide in such a game and in connectionwith certain of said pockets or openings devices adapted to be actuated by the ball entering the same, whereby the weight or impact of said ballcauses said device to operate, said device having connections with another mechanism which is set into operation for the purpose of indicating, exposing or delivering a prize; to provide in such a game or mechanism having a series of pockets or openings into which balls are to be cast, means whereby two or more of said pockets or openings are so interconnected with the prize-indicating mechanism that it requires that a ball be cast into each of two or more predetermined pockets in order to accomplish the operation of the prize-indicating mechanism, thus requiring repeated skill in order to accomplish the winning of a prize; to provide in a mechanism of the character referred to a container for the prize, with a door or closure or other release mechanism adapted to be opened or released by casting the ball or balls into the particular pocket or pockets, to indicate, expose or deliver a prize;

' to provide in combination with mechanism of the character referred to a movable combination or dial for indicating the particular pockets or openings into which the balls must be cast in order to cause the mechanism to function, such com-- bination or dial being changed automatically, or otherwise, after each play, thus changing the positions of the predetermined pockets into which the balls must be cast in order to bring about the operation of the prize-indicating mechanism; and, in general, to provide a game mechanism of the character referred to which involves skill in casting the balls into the precletermined pockets or openings for the purpose of causing the actuation of the mechanism which exposes, indicates or delivers the prize.

In order to further explain my invention, I have illustrated on the accompanying drawing one practical embodiment thereof, which I will now describe in detail, like reference numerals referring to similar parts. In the drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through the prize holding means shown in connection with this embodiment of the invention; 5

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View to show the switch terminals which are connected with certain of the pockets or openings into which balls are to be cast;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing the inside of the door to the prize container and the mechanism thereon for releasing and opening the door and for changing the dial which indicates the preselected openings or pockets.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view looking down on the corner of the structure, as seen in Fig. 4; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View to show how two or more pockets or openings can be connected in series so as to require that balls be cast into all of said designated pockets in order to cause its operation. 1

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a body structure l0, having the cross partitions therein, designated H, to form a series of openings or pockets [2 is here shown as one embodiment of the idea, said pockets or openings being open at their bottoms also, with movable cross rods or members [3, thereunder to support the ball therein until said cross rods are moved as a unit to release the balls and let them drop out below, into a drawer M, in the bottom of the body. Said cross rods are all connected to a frame or connectiing member, as I5, whereby they can all be moved at once by means of a handle I6, sufiiciently to permit the balls in the pockets to drop through to the drawer l4.

At the rear of the body structure is a vertical structure [1, in the front of which is a hinged door I 8, with handle I9; and on which is mounted a dial 2%), provided with a series of numbers to correspond to certain numbers in corresponding pockets or openings, the numbers being seen in the rear wall of said openings. An inclined floor 2| is indicated for said vertical structure, on which a prize, as P, is shown, through an elongated window 22 in said door. Latch means for the door and means for turning the dial are mounted on the back or inside of said door and will be described in detail. On the front of said door, associated with said dial 20, are shown three arrows, one or more of which can be used to indicate a preselected number or three preselected numbers, corresponding with the numbers of certain pockets or openings, and into which balls must be cast in order to cause the operation of the device and the opening of the door and the discharge or exposure of the prize won. It is to be understood that other means can be used to indicate the winning of a prize and any means for indicating, exposing or discharging the prize in response to the successful casting of the ball or balls into the preselected or predesignated pockets or openings.

Mounted on the back or inside of the door, on the shaft of the dial 2! and on the rear face of said dial, are a series of spring contact members, 23, 24, 25, 26, 21 and 28, concentrically arranged and spaced or staggered radially whereby each revolves in a diiferent circle when said dial is revolved, as again referred to. Across the inside of said door is a supporting bar or member 29, through which are mounted a series of pairs of contact switch members or elements, designated as a whole (iii, and shown in the enlarged view Fig. 3, said elements being positioned so that said spring contact members will each contact and connect a pair of said elements 39 to complete a circuit through the pair so connected.

Also mounted on the inside of said door I8 is a solenoid 3!, having a core 32, extended as at 32' and forming a bolt at 33 to interlock with a latch member 34 on the body frame, whereby to lock said door closed. Supporting brackets 35 and 36 are shown as means for supporting the solenoid and bar, respectively, on said door. A vertical lever 32', pivoted at 38, is connected at its lower end, as at 39, with the bar 32', and at its upper end, said lever is pivotally connected,

at 48, with a slide bar 4!, slidably supported on a bracket 42, by means of a slot 43, and at its free end connected with an angle member 44, pivotally supported on the hinge pin, as at 45, the other arm of said angle member 44 being attached to inside of the door, as at 46. This mechanism is intended to unlatch the door and move it to open position when the solenoid is energized, as will be clear from the showing. Mounted on said solenoid core or bar is a pivoted dog or pawl, 4-8, positioned to engage and turn a ratchet member 49, mounted on the dial shaft, 2i! on the inside of the door, as indicated, whereby each movement of the core of the solenoid unlatches the door, turns the dial a partial turn, and opens the door.

A coiled spring 50 is attached to the door, as at 5!, and to the body at 52, and operates to normally pull said door to closed position.

On the opposite sides of the body structure Hi, I have shown two glass sides, designated 53 and 54, and the player stands in front of the apparatus and casts the balls into preselected pockets or openings.

In each pocket, is mounted a spring contact member, as 55, adapted to be engaged and moved by a ball B, into contact with a fixed contact, as 56, in the side of the pocket or opening, whereby to complete a circuit through the wires 51, 58, extending to one of theswitch elements 39, to the transformer, T, to the solenoid, 3i, and back to the other switch element at 30, said pair of switch elements or brushes at 30, being connected through the proper spring contact member, as at 24, Fig. 3.

It will be understood, of course, that in each active pocket or opening are the movable and fixed contact elements to be moved together by the ball entering the same, and that a circuit extends therefrom which includes the transformer T, the solenoid 3i and the pairs of members or brushes at 39, which are successively connected by the spring contact members, designated 23 to 28, inclusive, which members are turned with the dial Zil, and said dial is turned intermittently, with the movement of the core of the solenoid. In Fig. 1, at the top of the dial, the numeral 25 is shown in the top arrow position, and this indicates that the pocket or opening numbered 25 is the oneinto which a ball must be cast. In Fig. 2, where only two of said pockets are shown, the ball is shown in pocket or opening 25, closing the switch elements 55 and 5t, and inasmuch as the corresponding brushes at as are connected with the corresponding spring switch member, the circuit through the solenoid is completed, it is energized, the core 32, with its extensions 32 and bolt 33 are moved to unlatch the door, and through the vertical lever 37', and the link or slide bar 4|, said door is moved to open position to permit the prize P to be discharged or removed from the prize holding case or support.

It will be understood from Fig. 6, that two or more of said pockets or openings and their switch elements 55 and 56 can be connected in series, and then it would require that two balls be cast into two preselected or dial indicated pockets, according to the two numbers indicated by two of the three arrows above said dial, only two.

being shown in Fig. 6, which is a diagrammatic view to illustrate the wiring.

While I have shown and described in detail one embodiment of my invention in which the holder for the prize is shown as a container or case and in which the openings or pockets into which the balls are to be cast are in a horizontal plane, I am aware that many changes in the details of construction and arrangement can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, limit the invention to this particular showing or embodiment of the invention, except as I may be limited by a proper interpretation of the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a game apparatus, a structure providing a series of openingsinto which balls can be cast, means associated therewith for indicating a preselected opening into which a ball is to be cast by the player, means for indicating a prize corresponding with said preselected opening, means associated with said opening, operable by a ball cast thereinto, for causing the operation of said prize indicating means, and connections operable by said ball for changing said preselected opening with each prize winning play.

2. In a game apparatus, a structure providing a series of numbered openings into which balls can be cast, means including a movable element for indicating a preselected number corresponding to one of said openings, means for indicating a prize for said preselected opening, means associated with said opening, operable by a ball cast thereinto, for actuating said prize indicating means, and means operable by said ball for moving said element to change the predetermined opening number.

3. A game apparatus including in combination a structure providing a series of numbered openings into which balls can be cast by a player, means including a revoluble element for selectively indicating an opening into which a ball is to be cast, means for indicating a prize corresponding with said selected opening, means associated With said opening, operable by a ball cast thereinto, for causing the operation of said prize indicating means, and means operable by said ball for turning said revoluble element for changing the selected number.

4. A game apparatus including in combination, a structure providing openings into which to cast a ball, means for indicating a preselected opening into which the ball must be cast to win, means associated with said opening, operable by the ball cast thereinto, for automatically changing the preselected opening, whereby another opening must be entered by the succeeding ball in order to win, and means operable by the ball entering said preselected opening for indicating a winning.

5.- A game apparatus including in combination, a structure providing a series of contiguous vertical pockets into which balls can be cast, means for indicating one or more preselected pockets into which balls must be cast to win, means with-, in said pockets, operable by the balls cast thereinto, and connected with prize indicating means, and prize indicating means operable thereby.

6. A game apparatus including a box-like structure with cross partitions forming a series of wells open at their upper ends to receive balls cast thereinto, designations forv differentiating said wells for selection purposes, means for indi- 10 indicating means to indicate the prize corre- 15 sponding with the selected well or pocket.

SANFORD E. WHITE. 

